The Warriors opened spring practice this morning with a 2-hour workout on the grass fields.
>> Former UH and San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey was among the observers. Tomey retired from SJSU following last season and recently moved back to Hawaii.
>> Defensive end Elliott Purcell and cornerback Tank Hopkins are recovering from offseason surgeries and didn’t participate. With Purcell out, Liko Satele was first in the rotation at left defensive end with Paipai Falemalu on the right.
“We just don’t want to take any chances,” UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “We’re not going to push anyone that’s injured until the trainers tell us.”
>> Cornerback Jeramy Bryant dropped a digit off his jersey. He’s now No. 8 after wearing 18 last year.
>> The coaching staff took a look at two potential walk-on kickers during the field-goal period. They kicked along with Scott Enos and a decision on their status could come as soon as tomorrow.
>> The Warriors next practice is Friday at 7 a.m. They’ll put the pads on for Saturday morning’s session.
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Hawaii’s pro day is tomorrow at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Members of last season’s senior class expected to participate in the workout include offensive linemen John Estes, Ray Hisatake, Raphael Ieru, Aaron Kia; linebackers Blaze Soares and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane; defensive linemen Victor Clore, Fetaiagogo Fonoti, Chris Leatigaga, Tua Mahaley, Rocky Savaiigaea and Tuika Tufaga; running backs Leon Wright-Jackson and Jayson Rego and receiver Jovonte Taylor.
Lineman Laupepa Letuli and linebacker Brashton Satele are also expected to workout while they await rulings on their appeals for a sixth year of eligibility.
Former Warriors Nate Ilaoa, Daniel Libre, Jakeem Hawkins, Fale Laeli and Erik Robinson are also slated to participate. The UH staff will also give former SJSU defensive end Carl Ihenacho a chance to participate.

The Santa Monica High boys team, which had been here for the ‘Iolani tournament, got a tour of the UH athletic facilities today as well as some of the Warriors’ practice.

Their coach is Liane Sato. UH fans should remember her from her San Diego State days playing against the Wahine in the 80s.

Team was really impressed by the SSC, especially the court. A couple of them bent down to touch the faux wood, one did a dive on the baseline to see how it would feel. Coach Fisher was their guide and the team was in awe when he told them how, when he was at UH in the mid-90s, they averaged 8,000 with a couple of sellouts. Oh to be so young.

About a decade ago, Nick Rolovich and Dave Aranda followed bends in the road that would eventually lead to their current roles as Hawaii’s offensive and defensive coordinators.
It was in 2000 that Rolovich first arrived in Manoa as a junior-college transfer joining the quarterback competition. That was also the year Aranda first connected with Greg McMackin as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech.
Rolovich learned the run-and-shoot under June Jones, embarked on a pro career, later returned as quarterbacks coach under McMackin in 2008, McMackin also hired Aranda to coach the UH defensive line.
McMackin is giving both added responsibility this spring as the Warriors’ coordinators.
“Dave is running the defense, Rolo is running the offense and I’m going to oversee all three (phases),” McMackin said.
Rolovich will continue to work with quarterbacks while Aranda will move from defensive line to linebackers.
“I think everybody has their own ways, but it’s a good spot to be in with the work you have on the front end as well as the back end,” Aranda said of coaching linebackers.
The shuffled coaching roster has Cal Lee as assistant head coach (defensive ends), Ron Lee as assistant offensive coordinator (receivers), Tony Tuioti as defensive tackles coach and George Lumpkin as director of player personnel.
Here’s the full lineup:
Greg McMackin—head coach
Cal Lee—assistant head coach/defensive ends
Rich Miano—associate head coach/defensive backs
Dave Aranda—defensive coordinator/linebackers
Nick Rolovich—offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Ron Lee—assistant offensive coordinator/receivers
Chris Tormey—special teams coordinator/safeties
Tony Tuioti—defensive tackles
Gordy Shaw—offensive line
Brian Smith—running backs
George Lumpkin—director of player personnel
Inoke Funaki—graduate assistant (quarterbacks/receivers)
Ryan Biesemeyer—graduate assistant (linebackers)
Chris Williams—video coordinator
Tommy Heffernan—strength coach